After the US imposed sanctions on Myanmar tens of thousands of workers lost their jobs, the state owned factories will employ these jobless workers.

A total of 123 textile and garment factories have been forced shut since the U.S. imposed sanctions in July to pressure the ruling junta to release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the Business Information Group journal reported.

That has put 22,094 people out of work, an official with the journal said.

"Unemployed garment factory workers will be employed in state-owned factories ... and they can return to their old jobs if the private textile factories reopen," the weekly reported.

Suu Kyi was detained May 30 following a clash between her followers and the regime''s supporters in northern Myanmar, triggering international outrage. The Nobel Peace Prize winner remains under house arrest.

The U.S. sanctions banned Myanmar imports, froze the U.S. assets of Myanmar officials and stopped all U.S. dollar remittances to the country. Myanmar''s exports to the U.S. - mostly garments - totaled about US$356 million in 2002.

About 350,000 workers, mostly young women, are employed at 300 textile and garment factories. According to earlier official reports, the U.S. sanctions will hit 1 million people, if workers in related businesses and families are counted.

The U.S. accounts for 75% of exports from the textile industry while the remaining 25% go to European countries.